Regeneration of water treatment media

ABSTRACT

Regeneration of water treatment media is disclosed which includes a water treatment unit having one or more media therein, and which upon initiation of flow of the water, imparts turbulence and abrasion to the treatment medium to automatically cleanse the medium of light solid contaminants, as well as contaminant coatings on the media. This greatly improves the operation of the media and extends its life. In addition, the water treatment unit disclosed may simply be rotated through any one of a number of positions between service, backwash, flush, off, and/or bypass operational modes for further regeneration of the treatment media.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/511,933, filedFeb. 24, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,763, which application is adivision of application Ser. No. 09/165,830, filed Oct. 2, 1998, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,042,729, which application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 09/025,231, filed Feb. 18, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.6,254,772.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the regeneration of water treatmentmedia and, more particularly, to a water treatment unit having one ormore media with a valve for the selective regeneration of the media, andto a method of regenerating the media.

Fluid treatment systems employing one or more fluid treatment media havebeen employed in the past for the treatment of various fluids, such aswater, to remove various impurities and contaminants therefrom. In someof these systems, various different treatment media have been employedin serial relationship to each other so that for example one medium mayhave a beneficial effect on subsequent downstream media. For example, inHESKETT U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,770 it is disclosed that the use of certainfinely divided metals, such as alloys of copper and zinc, may beemployed as an upstream treatment medium to remove certain chemicalconstituents, such as residual chlorine, prior to subjecting water toother downstream water treatment media, such as activated carbon and/oran ion exchange medium. Removal of the chlorine is not only beneficialto the quality of the ultimate product, but it also improves thefunction, and life of the latter two media when present may be improvedand extended.

In prior systems the several respective media are frequently located inseveral distinct units which are physically separated from each otherand the fluids are passed through these distinct units in a serialfashion. These individual units can be individually serviced, but theyare demanding of space and material. Where the several respective mediaare contained in a single container or tank, they are difficult tomaintain separate from each other, particularly due to the widedisparity in weights and/or sizes of the respective media particles.Even where they can be maintained separate from each other, theplacement of each of the media in the same tank makes it physicallydifficult to service or replace one medium without replacing the othersdue to their positioning relative to each other. Another disadvantage,particularly in small counter top water or tap mounted treatment units,such as shower head mounted units, is that no provision is usuallypossible to permit rinsing or backwashing of the media which, ifpossible, might greatly extend the life of the system and theirrespective media.

Another disadvantage in many water treatment units is that the flowthrough the treatment media during service is generally in a directionwhich tends to compact the medium. Thus, any dirt or other contaminantswhich are removed by the medium become trapped in the medium andaccumulate to eventually clog the medium or interfere with its treatmentfunction. When this occurs, it ends the life of the medium and requiresits replacement.

It is the purpose of the present invention to avoid or eliminate theaforementioned disadvantages. In the present invention, a multimediafluid treatment unit with an efficient control valve which is a part ofthe unit is provided which is compact, permits ready servicing of theunit and the utilization of a number of different media in the unit. Inthe present invention, the life of the unit is significantly extendedand the effective amount of medium is reduced by selective arrangementof the several media relative to each other to remove compounds whichmight be harmful to some of the media, by providing for periodic rinsingand/or backwashing of the treatment medium, and/or by automaticregeneration of the medium upon initiation of normal fluid flow.Moreover, the portion of the unit which contains the media need only besimply manually rotated to effect such rinsing and backwashing. Whenneeded, in the fluid treatment unit of the present invention anyreplacement and service of the unit and any treatment media therein arefacilitated.

In one principal aspect of the present invention, a unit includes arotatable valve which comprises a substantially disc shaped valve plate,a face on one side of the disc shaped valve plate, and a plurality ofpassages extending into the plate from openings in the face, with atleast some of the passages extending through the thickness of the valveplate to communicate with the side of the plate opposite the face. Thedisc shaped valve plate is rotatable about an axis which extends at asubstantial angle to the face. A valve housing having a face adjacentthe valve plate face also has a plurality of passages therein which opento the valve housing face. A first of the valve housing passagescommunicates with a supply of fluid, a second of the valve housingpassages communicates with a discharge for the fluid from the valvehousing, and a third of the passages communicates with a drain from thevalve housing. The valve plate is rotatable about its axis between afirst position in which the fluid is supplied from the first passage inthe valve housing to one of the passages through the valve plate, andfrom another of the passages through the valve plate to the secondpassage in the valve housing communicating with the discharge from thevalve housing, and a second position in which the fluid is supplied fromanother of the passages in the valve housing to another of the passagesthrough the valve plate, and from another of the passages through thevalve plate to the third passage in the valve housing communicating withthe drain from the valve housing.

In another principal aspect of the present invention, the faces aresubstantially planar and parallel to each other, and the axis of theplate is substantially perpendicular to the planar faces.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, a pluralityof seals on at least one of the faces are selectively alignable withones of the passages which open through the other of the faces when theother of the faces is rotated relative to at least one of the faces asthe valve plate is rotated.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the sealsmay comprise O-rings and/or spring loaded gaskets.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the unitalso includes in combination with the rotatable valve, a housingcontaining at least one fluid treatment medium. When the valve plate isin the first position, the fluid is supplied from the first passage fromthe fluid supply in the valve housing to one of the passages through thevalve plate and to the fluid treatment medium, and from the fluidtreatment medium to another of the passages through the valve plate tothe second passage in the valve housing communicating with the dischargefrom the valve housing to provide fluid which has been treated by thefluid treatment medium through the discharge. When the valve plate is inthe second position, the fluid is supplied from another of the passagesin the valve housing to another of the passages through the valve plateand to the fluid treatment medium, and from the fluid treatment mediumto another of the passages through the valve plate and the third passagein the valve housing communicating with the drain from the valve housingto backwash the fluid treatment medium.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the valveplate is also rotatable to at least one or more additional positionswhich include a rinse position in which fluid passes from the fluidsupply through the fluid treatment medium to rinse it and therefrom tothe drain, an off position in which fluid flow through the unit isturned off or a bypass position in which fluid is bypassed around thefluid treatment medium from the fluid supply through the valve plate andto a fluid discharge from the valve housing.

In still. another principal aspect of the present invention, when thevalve plate is in the second position, fluid is supplied from the fluidsupply to the fluid treatment medium to backwash the fluid treatmentmedium.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the valvehousing includes a passage for communication with a source of brine forregeneration of the fluid treatment medium, and when the valve plate isin the second position, fluid is supplied from the source of brinethrough the last mentioned passage to the fluid treatment medium toregenerate the fluid treatment medium.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the housingcontaining the fluid treatment medium is fixed to the valve plate,whereby the valve plate is rotated between the first and secondpositions by rotation of the housing.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, a fluidtreatment unit comprises a housing having a chamber therein which is ofa given volume, and finely divided loose fluid treatment medium in thechamber and which occupies a volume which is substantially less than thegiven volume of the chamber when fluid to be treated is not flowingthrough the medium. The chamber has an inlet for introducing the fluidto be treated to the chamber and beneath the fluid treatment medium inthe chamber, and an outlet to the chamber downstream of the fluidtreatment medium for discharging the fluid which has been treated fromthe chamber. The unit is constructed and arranged to lift the loosefluid treatment medium in a controlled manner upon initiation of flow offluid to be treated from the inlet to flush and remove contaminants fromthe medium, to suspend the medium during continuing flow of the fluid,and to permit the medium to settle to the bottom of the chamber when theflow of fluid has ceased.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the chamberhas a height which is greater than its maximum width, and the chamberincludes at least one portion intermediate its height which portion hasa width substantially less than the maximum width to reduce the rate atwhich the medium is lifted in the chamber as the flow of fluid isinitiated.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, thecross-sectional area of the portion is about 5-50%, and more preferablyabout 10% of the cross-sectional area of the chamber at its maximumwidth.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, a pluralityof the portions are spaced from each other along the length of thechamber.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, anadditional inlet is positioned intermediate the length of the chamberand which is associated with the lesser width portion to introduceadditional fluid to be treated to the chamber adjacent the lesser widthportion.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the lesserwidth portion comprises a sleeve positioned in the chamber.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the mediumis a particulate metal selected from the group consisting essentially ofcopper, zinc and mixtures thereof, and is preferably an alloy of copperand zinc.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, a method ofrapidly regenerating a finely divided loose fluid treatment medium uponinitiation of the treatment of the fluid, comprises permitting thefinely divided loose fluid treatment medium to settle into a bedfollowing a preceding treatment of the fluid, by ceasing or reducing thefluid flow to an amount insufficient to suspend the medium, initiatingthe flow of fluid to be treated beneath the bed of the finely dividedloose fluid treatment medium, with the flow as initiated being ofsufficient magnitude to lift the finely divided loose fluid treatmentmedium from the bed while restraining the rate at which the medium islifted to thoroughly separate and flush away contaminants that may havepreviously accumulated on the bed, and continuing to maintain the flowof fluid to be treated in a manner sufficient to continue to maintainthe loose fluid treatment medium suspended in the flowing fluid duringtreatment of the fluid.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the method.includes selectively restraining the rate at which the medium is liftedat least at one to two locations over the path of the flow during theinitiation of flow of fluid.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, in themethod the rate at which the medium is lifted is restrained by passingthe lifted fluid treatment medium through a cross-sectional area whichis about 5-50%, and more preferably about 10% of the maximumcross-sectional area of the bed.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the methodincludes introducing additional fluid to be treated at least at onelocation over the path of flow during the initiation of flow of fluid.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, in themethod of the invention, the medium is a particulate metal selected fromthe group consisting essentially of copper, zinc and mixtures thereof,and is preferably an alloy of copper and zinc.

In still another principal aspect of the present invention, the fluidbeing treated is water.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood through a consideration of thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of this description, reference will frequently be made tothe attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall, cross-sectioned elevation view of a preferredembodiment of fluid treatment unit incorporating the principles of thepresent invention and while the unit is at rest following prior fluidtreatment and before the initiation of fluid flow for subsequenttreatment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectioned, plan view of the unit as viewedsubstantially along line 2—2 of FIG. 1, and without the treatment media;

FIG. 3 is an overall, cross-sectioned elevation view of the unit andvalve shown in FIG. 1, but in which fluid flow for treatment has beeninitiated;

FIG. 4 is an overall, cross-sectioned elevation view of the unit andvalve shown in FIG. 3, but in which fluid flow for treatment continuesfollowing initiation;

FIGS. 5A-5E are exploded, sequential perspective views of a preferredembodiment of control valve of the present invention, and showing thevalve components in the service position in FIG. 5A, the backwashposition in FIG. 5B, the flush position in FIG. 5C, the off position inFIG. 5D and the bypass position in FIG. 5E;

FIG. 6 is a broken, cross-sectioned view of the O-ring seal embodimentsubstantially viewed within circle 6 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a broken, cross-sectioned view of a spring loaded gasketembodiment of seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A multimedia fluid treatment unit 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-4. In apreferred application, the unit 10 may be a counter top or under thecounter unit or may be a water tap mounted unit, such as a shower headunit for the treatment of municipal or other potable water supply.

The unit 10 preferably comprises an outer housing 12 having two chambers14 and 16 therein for containing preferably dissimilar water treatmentmedia 18 and 20 in the respective chambers. The inner chamber 14 ispreferably defined by an inner vertical cylindrical sidewall. Aperforated plate 24 is positioned adjacent the bottom of the innerchamber 14, and it, in turn, provides a support plate for a mesh screen26 which supports the treatment medium 18 when there is little or nofluid flow through the unit.

A plurality of vertical slots 28 are positioned at the top of thesidewall 22. The slots 28 preferably decrease. in width over thethickness of the sidewall and in the normal fluid service flow directiontoward the chamber 16, as best viewed in FIG. 2, so that the minimumslot width is at the flow discharge side of the slots under normalservice operation from the chamber 14 to the chamber 16. The minimumwidth of the slots 28 is selected to be slightly narrower than thesmallest size of the finely divided water treatment medium 18 in thechamber 14 as well as the minimum size of the medium 20 in the chamber16. This prevents the medium 18 from passing from the chamber 14 duringservice operation, and minimizes the possibility of the medium lodgingin the slots permanently, because on backwash any medium 18 which mayget stuck in the slots will be backflushed back into chamber 22. Thisalso prevents the loss of medium 20 to the chamber 22 and the medium 18during backwash.

The outer annular chamber 16 surrounds the inner chamber 14 and isdefined by the sidewall 22 and the outer sidewall 30. A floor plate 32preferably extends across the entire width between the outer side wall30 and is formed integrally therewith. The floor plate 32 includes anopening 34 which defines the fluid inlet for the unit as seen by thearrows in FIGS. 3 and 4. The floor plate 32 also defines the bottom ofchamber 14 for receiving the fluid which is to be treated and passing itto the fluid treatment medium 18. In addition, the floor plate 32between the inner sidewall 22 and outer sidewall 30 includes a pluralityof outwardly extending slots 36 which are similar to the vertical slots28 in that they are wider at the side facing the fluid treatment medium20 and narrower at the discharge side thereof for the reasons previouslydescribed with respect to the vertical slots 28 at the top of the innersidewall 22.

The unit 10 also includes a generally disc shaped valve plate 38 whichis firmly mounted to the bottom of the outer sidewall 30, as best seenin FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The valve plate 38 is preferably upwardly cupshaped as shown in the drawings to receive a perforated support plate40. The support plate 40 preferably rests upon a shoulder 41, as seen inFIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and it supports a fine mesh screen 42 which ispreferably of finer mesh than the mesh of screen 26 at the floor ofchamber 14. The mesh size of screen 42 which is, for example about 0.5microns, has the purpose of retaining any extremely small fines that maybe able to make their way through the respective media or may constitutethe smallest of the particle sizes of the media which are able to findtheir way through the media and the slots 36 with the treated fluid.These extremely small fines will be retained on the fine mesh 42 untilflushed from the system during the flush cycle to be described below.

The flat disc shaped bottom 44 of the cup shaped valve plate 38 containsseveral passages, only some of which are seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, andall of which are seen in FIG. 5. These passages in the flat disc shapedbottom of the valve plate 38 open to its bottom face 46. They includepassages 48, 49 and 50, all of which are shown in FIG. 5, and all ofwhich pass through the valve plate 38, and a U-shaped bypass passage 52.The bypass passage 52 does not pass through the valve plate 38. Both ofits ends open to the bottom face 46 of the valve plate.

The unit 10 also includes a valve housing 54 which is attached to thebottom of the housing 12 and in underlying relationship to the valveplate 38 as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The valve housing 54 alsopreferably presents an upwardly facing cup shaped body which receivesthe cup shaped valve plate 38 therein, and which includes outwardlyfacing threads 56 at the top of the cup.

A coupling ring 58 which also has threads 60 is threaded onto thethreads 56 of the valve housing 54 to couple the valve housing to thebottom of the housing 12 with the valve plate 38 in between. The bottomof the housing 12 preferably includes an enlarged annular shoulder 62which is trapped between the upper end of the valve housing 54 and thecoupling ring 58 when the ring is installed to attach the unitcomponents together. This coupling arrangement permits the housing 12and top of the valve housing 54 to rotate relative to each other.However, the valve plate 38 is fixed to the housing 12 so that itrotates with the housing and relative to the valve housing 54. SuitableO-rings 61, 62 and 63 are provided at this juncture to insure that theparts which interfit with each other are sealed against leakage.

The valve housing 54 includes a number of passages, ports and seals, allas best seen in FIG. 5, for the conduction of fluid to and from thehousing 12 of the unit and the treatment media therein. Prior todiscussing these ports and passages specifically, it should be generallynoted with reference to FIG. 5 that seals which do not have a port or apassage associated therewith through the valve housing 54, i.e. “blind”seals, are denoted in solid black. This is in contrast to “port” sealswhich are shown in outline only in FIG. 5 and which are associated witha port, for example the port at the top of port passage P as shown inFIG. 6. The blind seals as well as the port seals S, as shown in FIG. 6,are preferably located in shallow annular recesses in the upwardlyfacing face 64 of the valve housing 54. In the alternative, a gasket Gmay be spring loaded by a spring L upwardly against the bottom face 46of the valve plate 38, as shown in FIG. 7. The gasket arrangement asshown in FIG. 7 is particularly advantageous to compensate for less thanperfect tolerances between faces 46 and 64 as the valve plate 38 isrotated through its various operational modes as will be discussedbelow, because the spring loaded gasket provides a better, moreconsistent seal.

A fluid inlet 66, for example from a municipal water supply, provideswater to a compartment 68 in the valve housing 54, as best seen in FIGS.1, 3 and 4. Any one of several passages are connected to the compartment68 to receive water from the compartment 68 and conduct the waterthrough the valve plate 38 to media 18 and 20 for interaction with themedia, or to bypass the water past the media. These passages and portsin the valve housing 54 which communicate the supply fluid fromcompartment 68 include (a) passage 70 and its port 71 which communicatethe supply fluid to be treated to the passage 48 in the valve plate 38and to the media during the service operational mode, as seen in FIG.5A; (b) passage 72 and its port 73 which communicate the supply fluid topassage 49 in the valve plate 38 and to the media during the backwashoperational mode, as seen in FIG. 5B; (c) passage 74 and port 75 whichcommunicate the supply fluid to the passage 48 in the valve plate 38 andto the media during the flush operational mode as seen in FIG. 5C; and(d) passage 72 and its port 73 which align with the U-shaped bypasspassage 52 in the valve plate 38 during the bypass operational mode, asseen in FIG. 5E. Again referring to FIG. 5, fluid discharged from themedia is discharged (a) through the passage 49 in the valve plate 38 tothe port 78 and discharge passage 79 for treated fluid from the valvehousing 54 in the service operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5A; (b)through the passage 48 in the valve plate 38 to the port 80 and itspassage 81 in the valve housing 54 to drain during the backwashoperational mode, as seen in FIG. 5B; (c) through the passage 50 in thevalve plate 38 to the port 82 and its drain 83 in the valve housing 54in the flush operational mode, as seen in FIG. 5C; and (d) from theU-shaped bypass passage 52 in the valve plate 38 and through the port 84and bypass passage 85 in the bypass operational mode, as seen in FIG.5E.

In addition to the port seals associated with the last mentioned portsin the face 64 of the valve housing 54, various blind seals 86-90 arepositioned on the face 64 in the various positions as seen in FIG. 5.various passages in the valve plate 38 will align with these blind sealsduring certain operational modes. However, flow through those valveplate passages will be precluded because of the fact that these sealsare blind. These respective blind seals 86-90 have only been numbered inthe mode figures in which a passage in the valve plate 38 actually hasbeen positioned so as to be in alignment with the particular blind sealin order to simplify the respective FIGS. 5A-5E.

In the event that one of the media is an ion exchange medium, it may bedesirable to backwash with a brine solution to regenerate the medium,rather than with simple water. In this event, a brine passage which isconnected to a suitable brine supply (not shown) may be tapped into thepassage 72. In this event, suitable check valves V are provided in thebrine passage 72A and at the outlet from compartment to prevent back upof service supply water to the brine supply and/or brine to the servicesupply water in the compartment 68.

In addition to the regeneration of the fluid treatment media as theresult of the backwashing and rinsing which have been briefly referredto already, and which will be discussed in more detail below, the unitof the present invention is also constructed and arranged to producefrequent and immediate regeneration of the treatment medium 18 each timethe unit is started up. This is advantageous where the unit is a countertop or under the counter unit for the treatment of a municipal or otherpotable water supply, and even more advantageous where the unit is ashowerhead unit because in that usage, the initial water flow istypically discarded anyway. In such uses, the water which is to betreated is typically turned on and off with some frequency. When off, notreatment of the water is taking place and when on, the water beingconsumed is undergoing treatment. In particular, where the treatmentmedium is a finely divided copper-zinc metal, such as disclosed in thepreviously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,770, it is advantageous tobriefly and frequently regenerate the medium on initial start up toremove any light solid contaminants which may have settled on the mediumwhile the unit has been shut off. These light contaminants willtypically settle on the upper surface of the settled treatment mediumbed 18 during shut down because they are substantially lighter and,therefore, will settle more slowly by gravity than the heavier metalparticulates. Conversely, when an energetic fluid flow is reinitiated,as in the present invention, these lighter solid contaminants will moveaway from the medium 18 at a much faster rate than the heavier metalparticulate medium 18 will move, and the light contaminants will beflushed from the system.

Particularly advantageous is the flushing of the surface of the mediumto remove oxidization products, such as the chloride salts fromchlorine, which may have coated the surface during prior water treatmentso that the surface is again exposed to its fullest extent to react withthe newly arriving oxidizing contaminants. This removal of oxidants fromthe surface of the metal particles will greatly enhance the life span ofthe particulate metal medium to from as little as six months to one yearto two to three years. At the same time, this frequent regenerationpermits a reduction in the amount of metal particulate medium needed toperform the same treatment of as much as 30-50%.

In order to accomplish this initial substantial regeneration, thechamber 14 is tall and relatively narrow at its maximum width. Thisensures that the flow rate through the chamber from the input end atsupport plate 24 to the fluid discharge through the slots 28 will besufficient to permit medium 18 to be progressively suspended andagitated, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 upon start up of the unit so thatthe particles will aggressively abrade each other to remove theoxidation product coating thereon.

In order to maximize this early abrasion and turbulence of the particlesupon start up, the lifting of the particles is slowed and throttled.This is accomplished in the invention by one or more sleeves 91, 92 and93 which are installed into the chamber 22. The bottom sleeve 91 ispreferably a simple cylinder which at the top may be more or lesscrenelated to produce inlet orifices 94 for introducing inlet fluid tobe treated at a higher elevation in the chamber 22 to enhance turbulenceeffect on the water treating medium 18, as seen by the arrows in FIGS. 3and 4. The external diameter of the sleeve 91 preferably is slightlyless than the internal diameter of the inner sidewall 22 of the chamber14 to provide an annular channel 96 from the fluid inlet beneath plate24 and upwardly about the sleeve 91 to the inlet orifices 94.

The next upper sleeve 92 is also preferably somewhat less in externaldiameter than the interior diameter of the inner sidewall 22 so that anannular channel 97 is also provided to conduct inlet fluid further upthe chamber to inlet orifices 98 between the top of sleeve 92 and thebottom of the uppermost sleeve 93.

The principal purpose of the sleeves 92 and 93 is to provide one or morespaced shelves 99 which extend inwardly from the sidewall 22 of thechamber. Sleeves 99 provide substantially reduced cross sectional areasin the chamber 22 at spaced locations along the height of the chamber byway of apertures 100, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, which are muchnarrower than the maximum cross-sectional area of the chamber 22.Without these apertures 100, the particulate medium 18 would becomerapidly suspended at the top of the chamber 22 on start up and, thus,would not have the maximum ability to extensively abrade each other inclose contact. However, the much smaller cross sectional area apertures100 reduce the rate at which the particulate medium will ascend, andwill produce a much more intimate relationship between the particlesupon start up. These narrowed apertures 100, together with the orifices94 and 98 which inject fluid adjacent these apertures, will result insubstantial turbulence in the flow and suspension of the particulatewater treatment medium 18, as seen in FIG. 3.

The maximum diameter of the chamber 14 may vary widely, but willtypically be anywhere between a fraction of an inch up to as much as afoot or more. What is important is the relationship of the cross sectionarea of the aperture 100 to the maximum cross-sectional area of theaperture 100 to the maximum cross-sectional area of the chamber 22. Thisaperture area should be about 5-50% of the maximum cross-sectional areaof the chamber 14, with about 10% preferred, to achieve the desiredregeneration.

The medium 20 in the outer chamber 16 may take any one of a number offorms. It may be an ion exchange resin for the removal of undesirableions, such as a cationic resin for the removal of hardness from thewater or an anionic resin for the removal of undesirable nitrates ororganic contaminants. It may also be a particulate activated carbon forthe removal of various odors, flavors or other organic contaminants asare well known in the art. Indeed, where the water treatment medium 20is either an ion exchange resin or an activated carbon, the use of aparticulate, finely divided metal as the upstream medium 18 can actuallyprolong the life of the later contacted medium by removing residualchlorine from the water, because chlorine has a deleterious effect oneither an ion exchange medium or activated carbon.

Although it is believed that the operation of the water treatment unitof the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the artfrom the forgoing description, a detailed description of the operationfollows.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the fluid treatment unit 10 is shownin its at rest condition after a preceding treatment operation andawaiting start up for the next treatment operation. In this condition,the unit is in its service operational mode as shown in FIG. 5A so thatas soon as fluid flow is again initiated, for example of a municipalwater supply, the unit is prepared to start its next treatmentoperation. In this at rest condition, no flow of water is occurringthrough the unit and the water treatment medium 18, for example thefinely divided, particulate metal particles as disclosed and describedin the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,770, has settled to the bottomof the chamber 14 to form a relatively compact, condensed bed at thebottom of the chamber, as seen in FIG. 1. When the unit was brought toits at rest condition following a preceding treatment operation, theparticulate metals which are of considerable weight will have rapidlysettled to the bottom of chamber 14 to form the bed as shown in FIG. 1.However, most other solid contaminants which are lighter than the metalparticles and which might have been present when the previous treatmentoperation was ceased will settle at a slower rate and become depositedon the top of the bed of metal particles.

In this at rest condition in which the unit is in its serviceoperational mode, the valve plate 38 will have been rotated to theposition A in FIG. 5A so that it is in the service position when fluidflow is reinitiated. In this service position A, the passage 48 in thevalve plate 38 is aligned with the passage 70 and its port 71 in thevalve housing 54 in readiness to conduct the service fluid which is tobe treated to the media for treatment when flow is reinitiated. Passage49 in valve plate 38 is also aligned with port 78 and passage 79 in thevalve housing 54 to conduct fluid from the media which has been treatedto discharge it from the valve housing 54.

When the flow of fluid is to be initiated for treatment, the fluid willenter the supply conduit 66 from the source of supply of the fluid (notshown), for example a municipal service supply of water, and the waterwill fill the compartment 68 in the bottom of the valve housing 54 underpressure. As best seen in FIG. 3, this fluid to be treated will thenflow upwardly through passage 70 and port 71 in the valve housing 54,through the opening 34, through the space above the floor plate 32 inthe chamber 14 and upwardly through the support plate 24 and mesh screen26 into the fluid treatment medium 18.

This initial flow will commence the automatic cleaning of the medium 18as previously described by flushing any loose, lighter contaminantsolids which may have previously settled back onto the surface of themedium bed, upwardly and out through the vertical slots 28 at the top ofchamber 14 for ultimate discharge from the unit. As shown in FIG. 3,this initial flow will also tend to displace the finely divided,particulate medium 18 in the bed upwardly from its previously settled,at rest position as shown in FIG. 1. This upward flow, coupled with thejetting action from the input water which passes through the annularchannels 96 and 97 and which is jetted through the inlet orifices 94 and98 adjacent the shelves 99, and also coupled with the restraint of theupward flow of the particulate medium 18 by the shelves and narrowedapertures 100, will result in substantial turbulence in the medium, asdepicted by the arrows in FIG. 3, and abrasion of the particles againsteach other. Without the restraint by shelves 99, the particulate medium18 would immediately flow to the top of the chamber 14 with a minimum ofturbulence and abrasion.

The considerable agitation and turbulence in the particulate medium 18upon start up will remove substantial percentages of the oxidationcontamination products, for example the chloride salts from chlorine,which have previously accumulated on the surface of the particulatemetal medium. This results in an automatic cleaning action which flushesthese previously removed contaminants from the system upon at thebeginning of each start up and presents a fresh metal surface on theparticulate medium 18 which maximizes the removal of the undesirableoxidants in the next batch of fluid to be treated. It has been found,for example, that 50-90% of the oxidation products which were previouslycoated upon the particulate metal surface of medium 18 will be removedwithin a few seconds following start up. This is particularly desirablefor example in a shower head treatment installation in which the firstseveral seconds of water flow is discarded anyway.

As the flow of water continues, all of the particulate medium 18 willeventually become suspended in the upper part of chamber 14, as viewedin FIG. 4, where it will continue to treat the continuing flow of wateras it passes through that chamber. Once treated by the suspendedparticulate medium 18, the water will flow through the vertical slots 28at the top of sidewall 22 and downwardly through the medium 20 inchamber 16. As previously discussed, the medium 20 may take any one of anumber of desired forms including various ion exchange resins and/oractivated carbon.

After passing through the medium 20 as depicted by the arrows in FIG. 4,the treated water will pass through the slotted openings 36 in the floorplate 32, and then through the mesh screen 42 and support plate 40,passage 49 in the valve plate 38, and port 78 and passage 79 in thevalve housing to be discharged from the valve housing, as shown in FIG.5A. Any extremely fine contaminants which also may pass through theslots 36 will accumulate on the very fine mesh screen 42 for laterflushing, as will be described below. No flow will pass through passage50 in the valve plate 38 because it is aligned with blind seal 86 on theface 64 of the valve housing 54 as seen in FIG. 5A. Moreover, there willbe no flow through the U-shaped bypass 52, as viewed in FIG. 5A, becauseit is rotated to a nonoperative position in which its openings arealigned with non-functional, inactive locations on the face 64 of thevalve housing 54, as shown in FIG. 5A.

Notwithstanding the automatic regeneration feature of the presentinvention as previously described or in its absence, it will likely bedesirable to further periodically regenerate one or both of the mediaafter periods of extended use, and in a manner unlike and in addition tothe auto cleaning feature previously described.

When it is desired to backwash the media, all that need be done is torotate the housing 12 and the valve plate 38 which is fixed to itsbottom, from the service position A shown in FIG. 5A to the backwashposition B shown in FIG. 5B. The valve housing 54 remains stationaryduring this simple rotation of the housing between these operationalmodes. When the housing 12 and valve plate 38 have been located to thebackwash position B, as seen in FIG. 5B, supply fluid will continue toflow through inlet 66 and into compartment 68, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and4. However, passage 49 in the valve plate 38 will now be aligned withpassage 72 and port 73 in the valve housing 54, and passage 48 in thevalve plate 38 will now be aligned with port 80 and passage 81 on thevalve housing 54. Accordingly, supply fluid will flow from thecompartment 68 upwardly through passage 72, and its port 73, and throughpassage 49. This fluid will continue its flow reversely upwardly throughthe support plate 40 and mesh screen 42 to dislodge any fine particleswhich may have accumulated on that screen so that they may be flushedlater through passage 50. Backflush flow will continue upwardly throughslots 36 and the medium 20 in chamber 16, through the slots 28 at thetop of chamber 14 and down through the bed of medium 18, the mesh screen26 and support plate 24, through passage 48 in valve plate 38, as seenin FIG. 5B, and port 80 and passage 81 to drain where it is dischargedand discarded.

In the event that the medium 20 is an ion exchange resin for the removalof water hardness, nitrates or other undesirable contaminants, thebackwashing fluid would preferably consist of a brine of sodium salts orpotassium salts or the like for the regeneration of the ion exchangemedium, rather than just simple water from a municipal service supply.In this event, the brine will be introduced from a suitable source ofbrine (not shown) through passage 72A and into passage 72 where thebrine flow will continue to flow as previously described in the backwashdescription, as shown in FIG. 5B. Also where the unit includes provisionfor the introduction of brine, suitable check valves V will be includedin passages 72 and 72A, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5E, to precludeimproper flow of fluids between the water supply and brine supply, orvice versa.

With further reference to the backwash position B shown in FIG. 5B, itwill be seen that passage 50 in the valve plate 38 is effectivelyimmobilized because it is aligned with the blind seal 87 on the face 64of the valve housing 54. The U-shaped bypass passage 52 in the valveplate 48 is also effectively immobilized because it is aligned with anon-functional, inactive area on the face 64 of the valve housing 54, asshown in FIG. 5B.

If it is desired to flush the fluid treatment media, the housing 12 withthe valve plate 38 fixed thereto is simply further rotated to the flushposition C as shown in FIG. 5C. In this position passage 48 in the valveplate 38 is aligned with port 75 and passage 74 in the valve housing 54.Passage 74 communicates with the compartment 68 in the valve housing 54.Passage 50 in the valve plate 38 is aligned with port 82 and passage 83to drain in the valve housing 54, as shown in FIG. 5C. Accordingly inthis flush position C, supply fluid flows through the inlet 66, thecompartment 68 and through passage 74 and port 75 in the valve housing54, through the passage 48 in the valve plate 38, and to the media toflush the media. The fluid flow through the media is in the samedirection as it is during the service mode as previously described. Thefluid which leaves the media following flushing then flows into thechamber beneath floor plate 32 to flush any fines which may have beendislodged from mesh 42 through passage 50 in the valve plate 38 and port82 and passage 83 in the valve housing 54 to be discharged to drain.

As will be seen in FIG. 5C, the passage 49 in the valve plate 38 isimmobilized because it is aligned with the blind seal 88 on the face 64of the valve housing 54. The U-shaped bypass passage 52 is alsoimmobilized because one of its ends is aligned with the blind seal 89and the other end with a non-functional, inactive area on the face 64 ofthe valve housing 54, as seen in FIG. 5C.

If desired, the entire unit may simply be turned off by further rotatingthe housing 12 and the valve plate 38 which is fixed to it to the offposition D, as shown in FIG. 5D. In this position, all of the passagesin the valve plate 38 are either aligned with nonfunctional, inactiveareas on the face 64 of the valve housing 54 or with a drain discharge.More specifically, passages 48 and 49 as well as the U-shaped bypasspassages 52 in valve plate 38 are aligned with non-functional, inactiveareas on the face 64 of the valve housing 54 when the valve plate 38 isin the off position D. The only other passage 50 in the valve plate 38is aligned with the bypass discharge port 84 and passage 85.Accordingly, no fluid flow occurs from or to the unit in this offposition D.

If it is desired to bypass the fluid past the treatment media, thehousing 12 and valve plate 38 are rotated to the bypass position E, asshown in FIG. 5E. In this position, one leg of the U-shaped bypasspassage 52 in valve plate 38 is aligned with passage 72 and port 73 onthe valve housing 54 and the other leg of the U-shaped bypass passage 52is aligned with port 84 and passage 85 in the valve housing 54.Accordingly, in the bypass position E, supply fluid will flow from theinlet 66 to compartment 68, through passage 72 and port 73 in the valvehousing 54, through the U-shaped bypass passage 52 in the valve plate38, and out through port 84 and passage 85 through a bypass discharge invalve housing 54. Any flow to the brine passage 72A will be blocked byits check valve V.

When the valve plate 38 is in the bypass position E as shown in FIG. 5E,the remaining passages through the valve plate 38 are immobilized.Passage 49 in valve plate 38 is aligned with blind seal 90, passage 50is aligned with port 80 and drain passage 81 which is currentlynonfunctional and inactive, and passage 48 in valve plate 38 is alignedwith blind seal 89 on the face 64 of the valve housing 54.

Although as many as five operational modes have been described withreference to FIGS. 5A-5E, it will be appreciated that the unit of thepresent invention may be simplified by eliminating one or more of thedescribed operational modes without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Any such modification of the valve plate 38 and/or valvehousing 54 to eliminate operational modes is well within the skill ofthose in the art after considering the more complex multiple modes whichhave been thoroughly explained and described with reference to FIGS.5A-5E.

It will also be understood that the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention which has been described is merely illustrative of theprinciples of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim is:
 1. A unit including a rotatable valve comprising; asubstantially disc shaped valve plate, a face on one side of the discshaped valve plate having openings in said face, and a plurality ofpassages extending into said plate from said openings in said face, withat least some of said passages extending through the thickness of saidvalve plate to communicate with the side of said plate opposite theface, said disc shaped valve plate being rotatable about an axis whichextends at a substantial angle to said face; and a valve housing havinga face adjacent said valve plate face, said valve housing also having aplurality of passages therein and opening to said valve housing face,first of at least one of said valve housing passages communicating witha supply of fluid, second of at least one of said valve housing passagescommunicating with a discharge for said fluid from said valve housing,and third of at least one of said valve housing passages communicatingwith a drain from said valve housing; said valve plate being rotatableabout its said axis between a first position in which the fluid issupplied from said first of at least one of said valve housing passagesto one of the passages through the valve plate, and from another of thepassages through the valve plate to said second of at least one of saidvalve housing passages communicating with the discharge from said valvehousing, and a second position in which the fluid is supplied fromanother of said valve housing passages to another of the passagesthrough-the valve plate, and from another of the passages through thevalve plate to said third of at least one of said valve housing passagescommunicating with the drain from said valve housing, and said valveplate is also rotatable to at least one or more additional positionswhich include a rinse position in which fluid passes from the fluidsupply and thereafter to the drain, or a bypass position in which fluidpasses from the fluid supply through the valve plate and to a fluiddischarge from the valve housing.
 2. The unit of claim 1, wherein saidfaces are substantially planar and parallel to each other, and the axisof the plate is substantially perpendicular to the planar faces.
 3. Theunit of claim 2, including a plurality of seals on at least one of thefaces which are selectively alignable with ones of the passages whichopen through the other of the faces when the other of the faces isrotated relative to at least one of said faces as said valve plate isrotated.
 4. The unit of claim 3, wherein said seals comprise O-rings. 5.The unit of claim 3, wherein said seals comprise spring loaded gaskets.6. The unit of claim 1, including a plurality of seals on at least oneof said faces which are selectively alignable with ones of the passageswhich open through the other of said faces when the other of said facesis rotated relative to said at least one of said faces as said valveplate is rotated.
 7. The unit of claim 6, wherein said seals compriseO-rings.
 8. The unit of claim 6, wherein said seals comprise springloaded gaskets.
 9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the unit also includesin combination with the rotatable valve, a housing containing at leastone fluid treatment medium; and wherein when said valve plate is in saidfirst position, the fluid is supplied from the first passage from thefluid supply in the valve housing to one of the passages through thevalve plate and to the fluid treatment medium, and from said fluidtreatment medium to another of the passages through the valve plate tosaid second passage in said valve housing communicating with thedischarge from said valve housing to provide fluid which has beentreated by said fluid treatment medium through said discharge, and saidsecond position in which the fluid is supplied from another of saidpassages in the valve housing to another of the passages through thevalve plate and to said fluid treatment medium, and from said fluidtreatment medium to another of the passages through the valve plate andto said third passage in the valve housing communicating with the drainfrom said valve housing to backwash the fluid treatment medium.
 10. Theunit of claim 1, wherein said valve plate also is rotatable to an offposition in which fluid flow through the unit is turned off.
 11. Theunit of claim 9, wherein when said valve plate is in said secondposition, fluid is supplied from the fluid supply to said fluidtreatment medium to backwash said fluid treatment medium.
 12. The unitof claim 9, wherein said valve housing includes a passage forcommunication with a source of brine for regeneration of the fluidtreatment medium, and when said valve plate is in the second position,fluid is supplied from the source of brine through the last mentionedpassage to said fluid treatment medium to regenerate the fluid treatmentmedium.
 13. The unit of claim 9, wherein said housing in which themedium is contained is fixed to said valve plate, whereby said valveplate is rotated between said positions by rotation of the housing. 14.The unit of claim 13, wherein when said valve plate is in said secondposition, fluid is supplied from the fluid supply to said fluidtreatment medium to backwash said fluid treatment medium.
 15. The unitof claim 13, wherein said valve housing includes a passage forcommunication with a source of brine for regeneration of the fluidtreatment medium, and when said valve plate is in said second position,fluid is supplied from the source of brine through the last mentionedpassage to said fluid treatment medium to regenerate said fluidtreatment medium.
 16. The unit of claim 9, wherein when said valve plateis rotated to said rinse position fluid passes from the fluid supplythrough the fluid treatment medium to rinse it and therefrom to saiddrain, and when said valve plate is rotated to said bypass positionfluid is bypassed around the fluid treatment medium from the fluidsupply through the valve plate and to said fluid discharge from thevalve housing.
 17. The unit of claim 16, wherein said valve plate alsois rotatable to an off position in which fluid flow through the unit isturned off.
 18. A unit including a rotatable valve comprising; asubstantially disc shaped valve plate, a face on one side of the discshaped valve plate having openings in said face, and a plurality ofpassages extending into said plate from said openings in said face, withat least some of said passages extending through the thickness of saidvalve plate to communicate with the side of said plate opposite theface, said disc shaped valve plate being rotatable about an axis whichextends at a substantial angle to said face; a valve housing having aface adjacent said valve plate face, said valve housing also having aplurality of passages therein and opening to said valve housing face,first of at least one of said valve housing passages communicating witha supply of fluid, second of at least one of said valve housing passagescommunicating with a discharge for said fluid from said valve housing,and third of at least one of said valve housing passages communicatingwith a drain from said valve housing; and a plurality of first andsecond seals on at least one of said faces, said first seals beingselectively alignable with ones of the passages which open through theother of said faces when the other of said faces is rotated relative tosaid at least one of said faces as said valve plate is rotated, and saidsecond seals being blind seals which block the flow through selectiveones of said passages as said valve plate is rotated; said valve platebeing rotatable about its said axis between a first position in whichthe fluid is supplied from said first of at least one of said valvehousing passages to one of the passages through the valve plate, andfrom another of the passages through the valve plate to said second ofat least one of said valve housing passages communicating with thedischarge from said valve housing, and a second position in which thefluid is supplied from another of said valve housing passages to anotherof the passages through the valve plate, and from another of thepassages through the valve plate to said third of at least one of saidpassages communicating with the drain from said valve housing.
 19. Theunit of claim 18, wherein said seals comprise O-rings.
 20. The unit ofclaim 18, wherein said seals comprise spring loaded gaskets.
 21. Theunit of claim 18, wherein said faces are substantially planar andparallel to each other, and the axis of the plate is substantiallyperpendicular to the planar faces.
 22. The unit of claim 18, wherein theunit also includes in combination with the rotatable valve, a housingcontaining at least one fluid treatment medium; and wherein when saidvalve plate is in said first position, the fluid is supplied from thefirst passage from the fluid supply in the valve housing to one of thepassages through the valve plate and to the fluid treatment medium, andfrom said fluid treatment medium to another of the passages through thevalve plate to said second passage in said valve housing communicatingwith the discharge from said valve housing to provide fluid which hasbeen treated by said fluid treatment medium through said discharge, andsaid second position in which the fluid is supplied from another of saidpassages in the valve housing to another of the passages through thevalve plate and to said fluid treatment medium, and from said fluidtreatment medium to another of the passages through the valve plate andto said third passage in the valve housing communicating with the drainfrom said valve housing to backwash the fluid treatment medium.
 23. Theunit of claim 22, wherein said valve plate is also rotatable to at leastone or more additional positions which include a rinse position in whichfluid passes from the fluid supply through the fluid treatment medium torinse it and therefrom to the drain, an off position in which fluid flowthrough the unit is turned off or a bypass position in which fluid isbypassed around the fluid treatment medium from the fluid supply throughthe valve plate and to a fluid discharge from, the valve housing. 24.The unit of claim 22, wherein when said valve plate is in said secondposition, fluid is supplied from the fluid supply to said fluidtreatment medium to backwash said fluid treatment medium.
 25. The unitof claim 22, wherein said valve housing includes a passage forcommunication with a source of brine for regeneration of the fluidtreatment medium, and when said valve plate is in the second position,fluid is supplied from the source of brine through the last mentionedpassage to said fluid treatment medium to regenerate the fluid treatmentmedium.
 26. The unit of claim 22, wherein said housing in which themedium is contained is fixed to said valve plate, whereby said valveplate is rotated between the first and second positions by rotation ofthe housing.
 27. The unit of claim 26, wherein said valve plate is alsorotatable by the rotation of said housing to at least one or moreadditional positions which include a rinse position in which fluidpasses from the fluid supply through the fluid treatment medium to rinseit and therefrom to the drain, an off position in which fluid flowthrough the unit is turned off or a bypass position in which fluid isbypassed around the fluid treatment medium from the fluid supply throughthe valve plate and to a fluid discharge from the valve housing.
 28. Theunit of claim 26, wherein when said valve plate is in said secondposition, fluid is supplied from the fluid supply to said fluidtreatment medium to backwash said fluid treatment medium.
 29. The unitof claim 26, wherein said valve housing includes a passage forcommunication with a source of brine for regeneration of the fluidtreatment medium, and when said valve plate is in said second position,fluid is supplied from the source of brine through the last mentionedpassage to said fluid treatment medium to regenerate said fluidtreatment medium.